Electromagnetic relay



Jun 3, 1969 B. F. lVAKlN ET AL v3,448,413-

ELECTROMAGNET IC RELAY Filed March 6, 1967 Sheet I of 4 June 3, 6 B. F.IVAKIN ET AL ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY Sheet Filed March 6, 1967 Filed March6, 1967 June 3,1969 I s F. lV-AKIN ET AL 3,448,413

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34, F1138 32 T I 7* Julie 3, 1969 a. F. IVAKIN ET AL 3,448,418 IELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY V Sheet Filed March a, 1967 United States PatentUS. Cl. 335193 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electromagneticrelay in which due to an electric suspension of the armature and aspecial attachment of the moving con-tact spring an increased resistanceto vibration, linear acceleration and other mechanical overloads isattained. The center of gravity of the armature suspended together witha limiter of vibrations from an elastic element coincides with a pointof outlet of the elastic element from the stationary part of the relaywith the limiter of vibrations acting closely to the axis of rotationand substantially coinciding with the center of gravity of the armature.

Background of invention The present invention relates to anelectromagnetic relay having an improved resistance to vibration, linearacceleration and other mechanical effects due to an elastic suspensionof the armature and a special attachment of the moving contact spring.

Electromagnetic relays are known in which the balanced armature issuspended by a torsional string enclosed in a special tube. One end ofthe tube is fixed to the armature together with the string, whereas theopposite end serves for limiting oscillations that are apt to arise.Such a construction is shown in US. Patent No. 3,102,947, Cl. 317176.These relays are capable of operating normally upon being subjected toconsiderable vibration and impacts, but one of their disadvantages isthe inevitable wear of the limiter due to friction.

An electromagnetic relay is also known in which the armature issuspended by a flat spring having a console attachment with the frame ofthe relay, as illustrated in FIRG Patent No. 943,713, Cl. 21g 401.However, the susceptibility of the console spring to impacts, vibrationand acceleration results in a 'very unstable position of the armature,thus considerably worsening the relay characteristics during operationunder the above conditions.

A construction is also known in which the oscillations of the movingsystem in respect to the point of attachment of the elastic spring tothe frame of the relay are damped by stops provided near the point ofattachment of the spring and the armature (U.S.S.R. authors certificateNo. 123,194, Cl. 21a 20/01). The use of stops improves the stability ofthe system against mechanical effects, but sharply increases thestiifness of the armature suspension, thus coarsening the relay.

Another relay is known (U.S. Patent No. 2,955,174, Cl. 200 -93), inwhich the changeover contact springs are fixed to the armature and movetogether with the latter. A disadvantage of the relay described above isthe variation of its parameters due to deformation of the insulationspacers at changes in ambient temperature. Furthermore, the operatingcurrent is to be supplied through lfiexible buses that increase theoverall dimensions, complicate the construction and reduce theperformance life of the relay.

Contact system constructions are also known, in which the moving contactsprings are mounted on pins fixed to See the base of the relay by meansof glass insulators. The operating current is supplied to the springsthrough the above-mentioned pins (U.S. Patent No. 2,852,639, Cl. 200104).

Disadvantages of the latter construction is, first, the ditficulty ofadjustment of the contact springs and, second, the necessity ofovercoming the counteraction of all the restoring and changeover contactsprings during the movement of the armature, thereby resulting in a.general deterioration of the relay sensitivity.

Summary of invention A primary object of the present invention is toprovide a small-size vibration and impact-proof relay having stableoperating characteristics and free of above-mentioned disadvantages.

A favorable solution to the problems involved is attained by providingthe electromagnetic relay with stops that come into contact with theelastic element near the point of its attachment to the stationary partof the relay and by positioning the center of gravity of the armatureand its elements close to the point of contact of the above-mentionedstops with the elastic element, or near a line passing through thepoints of contact of the stops with the elastic elements.

Furthermore, the elastic element is housed within tubes, one of which isfixed to the armature, while the second is attached to the stationarypart of the relay, with'the tubes being arranged one within the otherwith a gap therebetween, and the stops being placed between the elasticelement and the tubes.

The tube fixed together with the armature to the elastic element carriestwo contact springs, and the elastic element serves also for supplyingcurrent to the springs.

Detailed description of drawings The invention will further :bedescribed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the armature and elastic elementattachment;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation, partly broken away showing theconstruction of the relay;

FIG. 3 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in elevation of aconstructional version of the armature attachment Within the relaypresented in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line IV, V-IV, V of FIG. 3 with a stringemployed as the elastic element;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line IV, V-IV, V of FIG. 3 with a flatspring employed as the elastic element;

FIG. 6 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in elevation of thearmature attachment with the contact springs mounted on the armature;

FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation of closed in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIIL-VIII of FIG. 7;

the assembly dis- FIG. 9 is a view partly in cross-section and partly inrelay, in which the armature is attached according to the FIG. 1, andthe changeover springs are actuated by stops arranged on the armature;

FIG. 10 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in side elevationof FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in elevation of theelectromagnetic relay.

Detailed description of invention As seen in the schematic view (FIG. 1)of the armature moving system, an elastic element 1 is fixed to astationary support, e.g., a relay base 2. Armature 3 provided with stops4 has a console suspension from the free end of the elastic element 1.Stops 4 are intended mainly for preventing an oscillatory motion of thearmature moving system due to external mechanical effects (vibration,impacts, etc.).

The point of coaction of the stops 4 and elastic element 1 is near thepoint of its attachment to the stationary part of the relay andcoincides with the center of gravity of armature 3.

Due to such an attachment, the armature 3 is capable of swinging easilyon the elastic element 1 and, at the same time, is sufficientlyresistant to external mechanical effects.

Further reference is made to FIG. 2 showing the construction of a relayin which the proposed method of attachment of the armature is embodied.

The relay comprises two coils 5 and 6 provided with cores 7. Coils 5 and6 are fixed to a strip 8, with the latter being secured by a support 9to a base 10. Armature 11 is fixed together with a tube 12 to theelastic element (not shown in the drawing) which is passed inside thetube 12 and is capable of rotating when the winding of coil 5 or 6 isenergized.

A more detailed view of the attachment of armature 11 is shown in FIG. 3presenting a constructional version of the attachment.

The armature 11 is fixed to an elastic element 13 which may be in theform of string 13' (see FIG. 4) or, alternw tively, fiat spring 13" (seeFIG. 5).

The elastic element 13 is enclosed in tubes 12 and 14. Tube 12 is fixedto the body of armature 11 in a conventional manner, for example, bymeans of a glass insulator 15. Tube 14 is secured to base 10 of therelay by an insulator =16.

The elastic element 13 is held inside the tube 14 by, for example,welding or soldering the element to the outer end of the tube. Tube 12is attached to the other end of elastic element 13 protruding from thetube 14. The constructional version described above is one of thepossible embodiments of the elastic console attachment of the armature11. The end of the tube 14 is inserted into that of the tube 12, with agap sufficient for the rotation of the armature 11 being left betweenthe tube ends. The required gap is provided by a correct selection ofthe inner and outside diameters of the tubes 12 and 14 and theirrelative arrangement. Elastic element 13 is clamped at the points of itsprojection from tubes 12 and 14 and centered within the tubes by stops17 and 18. A clearance sufficient for the bending of the elastic element13 is provided between the inner Walls of the tubes 12 and 14.

In cases when the string 13 serves as elastic element 13 (see FIG. 4),grooves 19'are provided in the ends of stops 18 for ensuring a propercoaxial alignment of the string 13 within the tubes 12 and 14.

The above-described construction can be employed in different types ofrelays for providing an elastic attachment of the relay armature andtransmitting the motion of the latter to the contact springs.

The armature attachment proposed herein will further be described by Wayof example as applied for providing a moving contact system of therelay, with the construction of this system being illustrated in FIGS.6, 7 and 8.

Contact spring 20 together with a subspring 21 and support plate 22 issecured to the outer surface of the tube 12 which, in turn, is fixed tothe armature -11 by means of the insulator 15. Elastic element 13 isfixed inside the tube 12 and also serves for supplying current to thecontact spring 20 connected electrically with the tube 14, with thelatter being fastened to the base 10 of the relay by means of theinsulator 16.

The contact system described above can be usedin neutral and polarizedrelays. In cases when the relay is provided with two and more groups ofcontact springs, the latter are arranged on the armature so that theelastic elements are aligned (along, for example, line y-y shown in FIG.8).

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a polarized relay, in which the contactsprings are changed over by the armature fixed to an elastic element.The relay is equipped with coils 5 and 6 mounted on the strip 8 securedby the support 9 to the base 10. Armature 11 is suspended from the base10 at two points by means of the elastic element I13 held in the tubes12 and 14 with being secured rigidly to the base 10. When the coils 5 or6 are energized, armature 11 turns about an axis passing approximatelythrough the points at which the elastic element 13 projects from thetube 14. Armature 11 is provided with pushers 23 that ooact with movingcontact springs 24 and make or break the same with fixed contacts 25 and26 mounted on terminal pins 27. Permanent magnet 28 positioned betweenthe coils 5 and 6 interlocks the armature 11 near the coil cores afterthe relay has operated.

FIG. 11 illustrates a neutral electromagnetic relay provided with thearmature and contact system shown in FIG. 6.

The relay winding being deenergized, the armature 1 1 is pressed againsta fixed stop 30 by a restoring spring 2.9. In this case, contacts 31 and32 are closed, and contacts 33 and 34 are opened. When the relay windingis energized, the armature 11 is attracted to core 35, thus opening thecontacts 31 and 32 and simultaneously closing contacts 33 and 34.

What is claimed is:

1. An electromagnetic relay comprising: a stationary part provided witha base carrying the electromagnetic system; fixed contacts mounted onsaid base; at least one torsional elastic element having a consoleattachment with said stationary part; a. moving part incorporating anarmature attached to the end of said elastic element; the abovementionedarmature having stops that come in contact with the elastic element nearthe point of its attachment to said stationary part of the relay, thecenter of gravity of the above-mentioned armature and its componentsbeing positioned near the point of contact of said stops with theabove-mentioned elastic element.

2. An electromagnetic relay comprising: a stationary part provided witha base carrying the electromagnetic system; fixed contacts mounted onsaid base; at least one torsional elastic element having a consoleattachment with said stationary part; a moving part incorporating anarmature attached to the end of said elastic element; said armaturehaving stops that come in contact with the elastic element near thepoint of its attachment to said stationary part of the relay, the centerof gravity of said armature and its components being positioned near thepoint of contact of said stops with the above-mentioned elastic element;tubes housing the aforesaid elastic element and arranged one insideanother with a gap therebetween, one of the tubes being secured to saidarmature, whereas the second tube is fixed to said stationary part ofthe relay, and said stops being arranged between said elastic elementand tubes.

3. The electromagnetic relay according to claim 2, wherein the tubeattached together with the armature to the elastic element carriescontact springs, with said elastic element serving also for supplyingcurrent to said contact springs.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,606,259 8/1952 Huetten 200l662,772,327 11/1956 Olsson .335--271 2,955,174 10/1960 Richert 335-3,284,742 11/1966 Pettit 335-493 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

H. BROOME, Assistant Examiner.

